Bouquet-holder



(No Model.) Y A' N. R. SHEETS. BOUQUET HOLDER.

No. 455,928. Patented July 14,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT VOEEICE.

NIAL R. SHEETS, OF DIGHTON, KANSAS.

BOUQUET-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 455,928, dated July 14, 1891.

Application filed February 13 1891. Serial No. 381,321. (No model.)

To @ZZ tlf/1,0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIAL R. SHEETS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dighton, in the county of Lane and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'Bouquet-Holders, of which the following is a specication.

This invention is an improvement in bouquet-holders, and has for its objects the improvement of the general structure of such articles, the simplification of their parts, and the reduction of the cost of manufacturing them.

Vith these objects in view the invention resides in the various novel details of construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim. A

In the drawings in which I have illustrated lny invention, and in which like figures and letters of reference indicate correspondingl parts, Figure l is a perspective view of one form of my improved bouquet-holder. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of another form of my holder. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the form shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. l, with the pin disengaged.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a receptacle, which may be tubular, as shown in Fig. l, or of any other convenient shape, such as the shape shown in Fig. 2. The receptacle A has its lower endclosed and is provided with an opening a at or near its top. A slot a is provided near the top, for a purpose which will presently be described.

B indicates a fastening and holding device, which is constructed, preferably, of a single piece of spring-wire bent upon itself, as shown at b, and the two ends brought up parallel,=or nearly so, to each other. The shorter end of this spring-wire is sharpened to form a pin b and the longer end is bent, as shown'at b2, into a loop b3 in a plane substantially transverse to the length of the ends just described.

The fastening and holding device B is attached to the receptacle A at ornear the bend b, as shown in the figures at c, in any convenient manner, such as bysoldering. The mechanical structures shown in Figs. l. and 2 are substantially the same, the'same consisting of a pin b', attached at one end to the receptacle A, and a catch attached at one end to the receptacle A and having upon 'the other end a loop or circle, the said loop being adapted to receive the free end of the pin and to move within the' slot c in the receptacle A. In Fig. 4 is shown a form of my device in which the pin is hinged, as it is in `the ordinary breastpin.

In use my bouquet-holder is applied as follows: The receptacle is taken in the hand, the fingers being upon the outer side of the receptacle and the thumb pressing the fastening and holdingdevice B toward the re ceptacle, so that the loop b3 is pressed up against the farther "side of the receptacle, thus allowing of the insertion of flower-stems. When a sufficient number of flowers have caught :in the holder, the'pressure is released from the fastening and holding device B, which by its springiness pulls outward from the farther side of the receptacle, and thus binds the stems of the flowers against the side of the receptacle in which is the slot a. The device is now fastened to the dress or to the coat of the wearer by inserting the pin b in the cloth of said article of apparel and the end of the pin caught by the loop b3. Vithin the receptacle a few drops of Water may be placed or a bit of absorbent material may be placed and moistened, in order to preserve the [iowers fresh as long as possible.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to any particular form of receptacle or any material, as I may use various fancy and ornamental shapes for my receptacle and yet not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention. I intend making, for instance, bouquet-holders in the form and appearance of buttons or badges. In so doing it. will be evident that I do not depart from the spirit of my invention so long as I have in combination a receptacle for ower-stems provided with av slot, a catching and holding device united' to said receptacle and having a loop entering the slot in the receptacle, and a pin adapted to be inserted in the wearing-apparel and to have its end engaged by the loop aforesaid.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent., is-

- rl a bouquet-holder, the oombnaton,with

a receptacle for owers, having a transverse slot In one side, ot a fastening and holding device formed of a single pieee of spring-wire 5 bent upon itself and attached to the receptaele at the bend thus made, one end of the Wire helng sharpened into a pin and the other being formed into a loop in a plane substantially transverse to the length of the ends ro just described, the said loop being adapted to `be received Within the slot in the receptaele and `to engage by its free end the pin', all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that. I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 15 presence of two Witnesses.

NIAL R. SHEETS.

Witnesses: l

ALBERTUS H. BUTLER, MILo BAMLETT. 

